大学英语教案 Unit34

1、PAGE PAGE 15Unit 4 Section AFive Famous Symbols of American CultureI. Background Knowledgethe Statue of LibertyThe idea of creating the Statue of Liberty began in France at a dinner party hosted by Edouard Rene Lefebvre Laboulaye, a scholar. Laboulaye and Frdric-Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor, began

2、to discuss the idea of presenting the United States with a monument to memorialize independence and human liberty. Bartholdi sailed from France to New York on June 8, 1871, to propose the building of the statue to honor the friendship between France and the United States. As the ship pulled into New

3、 York Harbor, Bartholdi spotted the perfect location, Liberty Island The internal framework of the Statue of Liberty was designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who later designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The outer skin, made from sheets of copper, was the work of the French sculptor Frdric-Auguste

4、Bartholdi. First built in France, it was taken apart and shipped to New York in 1885.Barbie DollsIt was the late 1950s when Ruth Handler noticed her daughter playing with paper dolls and imagining them in grown-up roles. Since most dolls at the time were baby dolls, Ruth envisioned one that would in

5、spire little girls to think about what they wanted to be when they grew up. Ruth created a teenager fashion model doll named Barbie (after her daughter), and the rest is history.Barbie has been an integral part of the lives of millions of young girls. Her timeless appeal has resulted in a dedicated

6、legion of fans that love to collect her.3. The Mattel Toy Company Mattel is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toy products. The companys core brands include Barbie, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Fisher-Price, and American Girl. With headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mat

7、tel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its products in more than 150 nations throughout the world.4. American Gothic Wood intended the couple to represent a typical small town resident and his daughter, but most interpret them as man and wife. Since completion, Grant Woods 1930 pai

8、nting American Gothic has become a critically acclaimed work that continues to enjoy enormous popularity. It also has become an American icon and is the model for a countless number of commercial art parodies, such as posters, cards, and souvenirs. The painting hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

9、5. Buffalo nickel In 1911 sculptor James Earl Fraser began designing the “Buffalo” nickel. Fraser said the portrait on the “heads” side was a composite of three American Indians Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons. The model for the “tails” side of the coin was none other than Black Diamond, the most

10、contrary animal in New Yorks Bronx Zoo.6. New York Citys Central Park Central Park was the first landscaped public park in the United States. Advocates of creating the park primarily wealthy merchants and landowners admired the public grounds of London and Paris and urged that New York needed a comp

11、arable facility to establish its international reputation. A public park, they argued, would offer their own families an attractive setting for carriage rides and provide working-class New Yorkers with a healthy alternative to the saloon. After three years of debate over the park site and cost, in 1

12、853 the state legislature authorized the City of New York to use the power of eminent domain to acquire more than 700 acres of land in the center of Manhattan.7. Uncle Sam The prevailing theory is that Uncle Sam was named after Samuel Wilson. Wilson was born in Arlington, Mass., on September 13, 176

13、6. His childhood home was in Mason, New Hampshire. In 1789, he and his brother Ebenezer walked to Troy, New York. Samuel Wilson died in 1854. His grave is in the Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.During the War of 1812, Wilson was in business of slaughtering and packing meat. He provided large shipments of m

14、eat to the US Army, in barrels that were stamped with the initials “US”. Supposedly, someone who saw the “US” stamp suggestedperhaps as a joke that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam” Wilson. The suggestion that the meat shipments came from “Uncle Sam” led to the idea that Uncle Sam symbolized the fe

15、deral government. The single most famous portrait of Uncle Sam is the “I WANT YOU” Army recruiting poster from World War I. The poster was painted by James Montgomery Flagg in 1916-1917.II. Text Analysis The overall structure of the passage is listing: the author listed five famous symbols of Americ

16、an culture. Each symbol is parallel to another or there is a matching relationship between the symbols. The five symbols are put together to support the central topic of the reading passageFive Famous Symbols of American Culture. The passage is a narration about five famous symbols of American cultu

17、re, telling us the historical background of the well-known symbols. For each part of the passage, the author centers on one specific symbol, dealing with it from different aspects such as who created, what the creator was, how he created, when, and how the symbol was accepted, etc. One of the thread

18、s that can not escape our attention is that the author always tries to present the story according to the time sequence.For example: The Statue of Liberty ( Para 1Para 4)Who created the Statue of Liberty and what was he? When? What is the purpose to create the statue? What do we know about the creat

19、or? How did he create the Statue of Liberty? When did the creator finish the statue? How did he like the statue? From the answers to the proposed questions, the readers can have a clear idea about the Statue of Liberty. The time markers used in dealing with the first symbol:In the mid-1870s; at the

20、same time; in 1876; that same year; in 1886Part One (Para1-4) The Statue of Liberty.Part Two (Para5-10) Barbie DollPart Three (Para 11-14) American GothicPart Four (Para15-18) The Buffalo NickelPart Five (Para19-22) Uncle SamIII. Language Points1. In the mid-1870s, French artist Frederic Auguste Bar

21、tholdi was working on an enormous project called Liberty Enlightening the World,(Para.2) enlighten : vt. give sb. more information about sth. so that he or she knows the truth to cause to understand deeply and clearly, esp. by making free from false beliefs A few devoted doctors have fought for year

22、s to enlighten the profession. 一些富有献身精神的医生奋斗了多年来发展这一专业。 Peter thought the world was flat until I enlightened him! 在我给他讲明白以前，彼得以为地球是扁的。 work on: have sth as the subject of thought or effort We are working on the preparation of our 20th reunion after graduation. 我们正忙于准备毕业后二十年的聚会。 The scientists are st

23、ill working on inventing new methods of reaching outer space.科学家们还在努力研发到达外层空间的新办法。 2a monument celebrating US independence and the French-America alliance. (Para 2) monument: n. a building or statue that is built to remind people of a famous person or event the Monument to the Peoples Heroes 人民英雄纪念碑

24、 This statue is a monument to one of our greatest statesmen. 这座塑像是我国一位伟大政治家的纪念碑。 alliance: n. a close agreement or connection made between countries, groups, families, etc. for a shared purpose or for the protection of their interests The two countries entered into a defensive alliance with each oth

25、er. 这两个国家订立了防御联盟。 the countrys military alliance with France 该国与法国在军事上结成的联盟3. His mother could not approve of her sons affection for a woman she had never met, (Para.2) Meaning : his mother was not pleased that her son loved a woman she had never known, approve: v. accept, permit or officially agree

26、 to: ratify The city council approved the building plans. 市议会批准了这项建筑计划。 approve of: to have a favorable opinion, esp, of a course of action or type of behavior; regard as good, right, sensible, etc. His parents did not approve of his leaving school early. 他的父母不赞同他这么早就离开学校。 4. That same year Barthold

27、i had assembled the statues right arm and torch, and displayed them in Philadelphia. Meaning: In the same year when he got married, Bertholdi had put the statues right arm and torch together, and then showed them in Philadelphia.assemble: v. 1) fit the parts of sth. together We spent all day trying

28、to assemble our new bookshelf. 我们用了一整天来安装新书架。 2) come together in a group; gather or collect Ive assembled all the information I need for my essay. 我收集了写那篇论文所需要的所有信息。 The leaders assembled in Peking for the meeting. 领导们聚集在北京开会。5. He needed someone whose face represented suffering yet strength, someo

29、ne more severe than beautiful.(Para. 3)Meaning: He needed someone whose face showed that she had suffered a lot but remained strong, someone who looked more plain than attractive.6. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on an island in Upper New York Bay in 1886. (Para.4)Note that October28, 1886 was

30、declared to allow Americans to celebrate thestatues unveiling. More than 1 million people lined the streets for a parade.7. Ruth came up with the idea for Barbie after watching her daughter play with paper dolls (Para. 7)Meaning: Ruth had an idea of making Barbie dolls after she had watched her daug

31、hter Barbara play with paper dolls. come up with: find or produce (an answer, a solution, etc.) Scientists have come up with new ways of saving energy. 科学家们找到了节省能源的新途径。 The airline has come up with a novel solution to the problem of jet-lag.这家航空公司想出一个新办法来解决乘客长途飞行后因时差引起生理失调的问题。 8. a joke gift adults

32、described as having the appearance of “a woman who sold sex”. (Para. 7)Meaning: a gift for adults which is intended as a joke and which is described as having the appearance of “a woman who sold sex”.9. Mattel refashioned the doll into a decent, all-American although with an exaggerated breast size

33、version and named it after Barbara, who was then a teenager.Meaning: Mattel Toy Company changed the doll into a model that was respectable, purely American, yet with big breasts, and named the new-born doll after Barbara, who was just a teenager at that time. version n. 1) a slightly different form,

34、 copy, or style of an article （同一种物件稍有不同的）样式，型号，复制件 This dress is a cheaper version of the one we saw in that shop. 这件衣服同我们在那家商店看到的一样，但它是比较便宜的一种。 2) one persons account of an event, esp. as compared with that of another person （某人对某一事件的）说法，描述； The two drivers gave different versions of the accident.

35、 两个司机对事故的说法不同。 3) a form of a written or musical work that exists in more than one form （书面作品或音乐作品的）版本；改编本； an English version of a German play 德文剧本的英译本 name sb./sth. after sb.: give sb./sth. the name of sb. as an honor This bridge is named after the designer. 这座桥是以设计师的名字命名的。10. Now more than sixty

36、years old, Barbarawho declined interview but is said to have loved the doll may be the most famous unknown figure on the planet. (Para. 9) Meaning: Barbara, who is now more than sixty years old and who refuses interviews but is said to have loved the doll, is probably the most famous person in the w

37、orld with her real name being unknown.11. with his painting American Gothic, an often copied interpretation of the solemn pride of American farmers. (Para. 12)solemn: a. 1) done, made, etc. seriously; having a sense of religious-like importance a solemn statement 庄严的声明 a solemn warning 严正的警告 2) seri

38、ous-looking ; grave put on a solemn face 板起脸孔 Her solemn face told them that the news was bad.她严肃的表情告诉他们那是坏消息。 12. but the faces in his composition were what captured the worlds attention.(Para.12) Meaning: but the faces in his painting were the most attractive. capture ones attention: draw ones att

39、ention; be attractive to someone13. He stretched the models necks a bit, but there was no doubt who posed for the portrait. (Para.13)t, but there was no doubt who posed for the Meaning: He made the models necks a bit longer in the painting, but doubtlessly people would know who was sitting for the p

40、ainting. stretch: v. 1) to (cause to ) become wider or longer I tried stretching the shoes, but still my feet wouldnt fit into them. 我试着把鞋撑大一点， 可脚还是伸不进去。 2) to cause to reach full length or width He stretched out his arm to try and reach the apple. 他伸出手臂设法拿到那只苹果。 3) to spread out in space or time Th

41、e desert stretched away into the distance/as far as the eye could see. 沙漠一直延伸到远方；沙漠一望无际。 14. Nan later remarked that the fame she gained from American Gothic saved her from a very boring life. (Para. 14)Meaning: Nan said later that the painting American Gothic helped her come tofame and prevented he

42、r from living a dull life. 15. But the Buffalo nickel, produced from 1913 to 1938, honored a pair of connected tragedies from the settlement of the American frontier the destruction of the buffalo herds and the American Indians. (Para. 16) Meaning: But the Buffalo nickel, which was produced from 191

43、3 to 1938, honored two tragedies the killing of the buffalo herds and the destruction of the American Indians which were closely connected and took place as the result of the settlement of the American frontier. settlement: n 1) the movement of a new population into a place to live there the settlem

44、ent of the American West. 往美国西部的移民 the settlement of the immigrants 移民的拓居2) an agreement , usu. official, that ends an argument; the act of reaching this kind of agreementThe strike lasted for several weeks until a settlement was reached.罢工持续了几周，直到达成协议为止。Our objective must be to secure a peace settl

45、ement.我们的目标必须是确保达成和平协议。16. While white people had previously been used as models for most American coins, famed artist James Earle Fraser went against tradition by using three actual American Indians as models for his creation.Meaning: In the previous years coin makers had used white people as model

46、s for most American coins. In contrast, James Earle Fraser, who was a famous artist, broke this tradition and used three actual American Indians as models for his creation. (One was Two Moons of the Cheyenne, the second was Iron Tail of the Sioux, and the thirds identity was uncertain but may have b

47、een Big Tree of the Kiowa.)17. For the buffalo on the other side, since buffalo no longer wandered about the grasslands, Fraser was forced to sketch an aging buffalo from New York Citys Central Park Zoo. (Para. 18)Meaning: In order to have the buffalo for the other side of the coin, Fraser had to go

48、 to New York Citys Central Park Zoo and draw a picture of an aging buffalo, because buffalo no longer wandered the great grasslands. ( Their number was severely reduced.)18.Wilson gained a position inspecting meat for US Army forces, Meaning: Wilson got a job, which is examining meat for US Army for

49、ces19. working with a man who had signed a contract with the government to provide meat to the army. contract: n. a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups. a temporary contract 临时合同They signed a three-year contract with a major record compan

50、y.他们与一家大唱片公司签了三年合同。v. 1) make a written legal agreement with sb. to do sth. or to have sb. work for a certain party Her firm has been contracted to supply all the furniture for the new building . 她的公司签了合同，为新建大楼提供所用家具。 2) get an illness or disease He contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. 他因输血染上了艾

51、滋病。 3) become or make sth. smaller or shorter Metals contract as they cool. 金属遇冷收缩。 20. Barrels of meat supplied to the army were stamped “EA-US”, identifying the company (EA) and country of origin (US). (Para. 21)Meaning: The letters of “EA-US were stamped on all barrels of meat that were supplied

52、to the US Army, with EA standing for the company that supplied the meat and US standing for the country where the meat was made.21. his form evolving from an earlier cartoon character called Brother Jonathan that was popular during the American Revolution. (Para. 22)Meaning: the figure of Uncle Sam

53、in the political cartoons developed from an earlier cartoon character called Brother Jonathan that was popular during the American Revolution. evolve from: to develop gradually by a long continuous process Some people believe that we evolved from the apes. 有些人认为我们是从类人猿逐渐演变成的。 The British political s

54、ystem has evolved over several centuries. 英国的政制经过了数百年的发展。 22. in his famous army recruiting posters of World Wars I and II. (Para. 22)Meaning: in his famous posters that tried to get young men to join the US Army during World War I and World War II. recruit: vt . persuade sb. to become a new member

55、of an organization, esp. the army The state is recruiting young people to the teaching professions. 这个州在招聘年轻人从事教学工作。 n. a new member of an organization, esp. the army The new recruits were trained for six months and then sent to the war front. 新兵训练六个月后就被送上了前线。 23. That versiona tall man with white h

56、air and a small white beard on his chin, a dark blue coat and a tall hat with stars on it was a self-portrait of Flagg. (Para.22) Meaning: The portrait of Uncle Sam in Flaggs posters was a self-portrait of Flagg. It was a tall man with white hair on his head and a small white beard on his chin, wear

57、ing a dark blue coat and a tall hat with stars on it.IV. Writing Narration is story writing. When you write a narrative paragraph or essay, you write about events in the order that they happened. In other words, you use time order/sequence to organize your sentences. Notice the kinds of words and ph

58、rases used to show time order. These are called time order words or phrases because they show the order in which events happen.Words Phrases first (second, etc) at first then at exactly 5:04 p.m. next after a while finally after that afterward in the morning meanwhile in the meantimeTime Order Parag

59、raph （Sample） It was Sarahs turn to wash the dishes last night. First, she removed the dirty dishes from the table. Next, she piled them in the sink and rinsed them. After that, she put them in the dishwasher and turned it on. Finally, the dishes were clean, so she put them away.Section BEngelbreits

60、 the Name, Cute Is My GameI. Reading Skills Appreciating Figurative LanguageTo make language clearer, more interesting, and more striking, all of us use expressions which are not literally true. We make comparisons in speaking and writing. Figurative languagelanguage that compares or paints a pictur